Hu Won’t Appeal Sentence in Rio Case, Lawyer Says

Australian Stern Hu will not appeal his guilty verdict for bribery in the Rio Tinto, but at least two of his colleagues will, Bloomberg reports:

Stern Hu, the former Rio Tinto Group official given 10 years in prison in China for taking bribes and infringing commercial secrets, won’t appeal the sentence, his lawyer Jin Chunqing said.

“After talking with his lawyers and family, Hu decided not to appeal,” Jin said today after meeting his client. He didn’t elaborate.

… Hu’s colleagues Liu Caikui, Ge Minqiang and Wang Yong were given prison terms of seven years, eight years and 14 years respectively, Chief Judge Liu Xin said on March 29 in the Shanghai No. 1 Intermediate People’s Court. Liu will appeal the verdict, his lawyer Tao Wuping said yesterday.

Yang Bailin, the lawyer representing Wang Yong, said on March 29 that Wang will appeal. Zhai Jian, who represents Ge Minqiang, declined to comment.